On February 13th, it was my two year anniversary on YouTube. I've certainly come a long way since my very first video (which is over here if you fancy a laugh). I remember being really nervous and talking to a camera just seemed unnatural, and editing took days... but I'm glad I persevered.
I wouldn’t have thought so much could change between the age of 24 and 26, but it really can. Back in 2015, I had recently finished my Master’s degree and was wondering what to do with my life. I wish I could go back and tell myself that it would all work out, and that I’d end up being self-employed and making content for other people. I wouldn't have my job right now if I hadn't hit the record button two years ago, and if I hadn't kept going and consistently uploading a new video every week... even when I wondered if anyone was actually watching my videos.
My audience is still quite small in the grand scheme of things, but I'm so grateful for every single person who decides to stop by my channel and spend their valuable time watching something I've made.
Thinking of starting your own youtube channel? start here.
I've learned just how long it takes to earn money from YouTube, which makes me respect anyone who's managed to pull it off even more than I already did. It's so hard to get an audience, no matter how good your camera equipment is. That was a really difficult lesson for me. I thought that because I knew about filming and editing that it would help me grow quickly, but that isn't even the most important factor. I still take pride in making high-quality videos, but now I know that it's making truly valuable content that counts - that's why things like reviews and tutorials tend to do well on YouTube.
But there are other factors that don't get talked about as much: mainly passion and personality. Think about it, when you fall in love with a channel, what makes you keep coming back? It's most likely their personality. Sure, you might like the way they film or the products they review as well, but it will be the personality that sticks with you. I don't know about you, but I would happily be best friends with every single person in my subscription box.
I think it took me a really long time to learn to be comfortable in front of the camera. Anxiety has always been a big part of my life and something that's got in my way of doing a lot of things. I'm proud to say that it didn't stop me from starting a channel, however it took me about three years to pluck up the courage to do it in the first place. That's a shame, because otherwise I'd have another three years of content. I still get nervous when I film now - which is why I write notes or completley script videos, and why I try to film two or three at a time. But it gets easier every week.
If you haven't subscribed to my channel already, I'd really appreciate it if you did. And if you're thinking of starting a channel yourself, best of luck to you... and don't wait too long.
